M&EE Networking Group

Transcription

1 COP0026 Issue 1 September 2012 Code of Practice for Flailing Operations Using OTP M&EE Networking Group

2 No COP0026 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for Issue 1 Flailing Operations Using OTP Page 2 of 12 Document revision history Issue Date Reason for change 1 Mar 2012 First Draft Background A sub-group of the M&EE Networking Group have looked at the arrangements for flailing operations. The M&EE Networking Group recommend this COP as good practice for the industry. M&EE COPs are produced for the benefit of any industry partner who wishes to follow the good practice on any railway infrastructure. Where an infrastructure manager has mandated their own comparable requirements, the more onerous requirements should be followed as a minimum for work on their managed infrastructure. The M&EE Networking Group makes no warranties, express or implied, that compliance with this document is sufficient on its own to ensure safe systems of work or operation. Users are reminded of their own duties under health and safety legislation. Sub-group Contacts Jack Pendle (Chair) jack.pendle@volkerrail.co.uk Chris Sayers-Leavy chris.sayers-leavy@networkrail.co.uk Steve Wadham steve.wadham@totalrailsolutions.co.uk John Gribble john.gribble@amey.co.uk Brian Peaple brian.peaple@colasrail.co.uk Richard Sharp richardsharp@murphygroup.co.uk Cliff Smith CliffSmith@pauljohngroup.co.uk

3 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for No COP0026 Flailing Operations Using OTP Issue 1 Page 3 of 12 Sign off The M&EE Networking Group agreed and signed off this Code of Practice on 13 September 2012 and published on 1 December 2012 Amey J Nutty Mechanical Assurance Engineer Babcock Rail J Watson Director M&EE Balfour Beatty Rail R Wells Plant SC Manager Carillion J Ockenden Professional Head Plant Engineering COLAS RAIL N Powell Plant Engineering Network Rail J Allenden Professional Head of Plant & T+RS Rail Plant Association T Cook Management Committee RSSB M James Principal Plant Engineer VolkerRail J Pendle Engineering Director Purpose This Code of Practice details the actions to be taken, when planning for and undertaking flailing operations. Scope This Code of Practice applies to all personnel responsible for the planning and operation of all types of flail equipment using OTP on Network Rail managed infrastructure. The contents of this Code of Practice could equally apply to flailing operations undertaken on other railways. This Code of Practice is not intended to cover the application of circular saws mounted on powered arms for clearance or removal of vegetation.

4 No COP0026 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for Issue 1 Flailing Operations Using OTP Page 4 of 12 Definitions Collision ES Flail Flailing Incident Operator operator OTP PICOP POL Any unintentional contact with any other vehicle, structure, building, construction, overhead line equipment, railway track including third/forth rail equipment, personnel and livestock etc. Engineering Supervisor undertaking duties as outlined in GE/RT8000/HB12. A power driven rotary flail head attachment fitted with tines/teeth/chains. The process of trimming vegetation using a power driven rotary flail head attachment. Unplanned, uncontrolled event, which under different circumstances could have resulted in an accident. For the purposes of this document, the Operator, when written with a capital O, means the company responsible for the operation of the vehicle. For the purposes of this document, the operator, when written with a lower case o, means the person who is handling the controls of the vehicle. Vehicles with rail wheels capable of running on railway track, limited by their engineering acceptance to running within a possession only. For the purposes of this standard they are split into three main groups: rail mounted maintenance machines (RMMMs), road-rail vehicles (RRVs), and trailers. Person in charge of possession undertaking duties as outlined in GE/RT8000/HB11. Plant Operating Licence.

5 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for No COP0026 Flailing Operations Using OTP Issue 1 Page 5 of 12 1 Safe System of Work 1.1 Planning All flailing operations must be planned to ensure that a safe system of work is established. The planning process must include a site inspection by a person competent in the application of this COP prior to the commencement of any work. The site inspection should be a manual walk through in daylight hours to identify any potential hazards Consideration must be given to flying debris, its effect on personnel, property and its disposal When planning flailing operations, due to the nature of the work and the hazards involved specific consideration should be given to the following in addition to the normal planning requirements: a) The Infrastructure Manager s requirements and limitations. An exclusion zone needs to be set up around the working flail as advised by the manufacturer. Where the manufacturer has not specified the dimensions for an exclusion zone it should be taken as 100m along track exclusion zone (see Fig 1) in both directions from the flailing operation. The exclusion zone should include a lateral separation taking cognisance of the infrastructure being worked on, the vegetation material being removed and the presence of people and property on the railway and adjacent to it. The presence of trains and plant on adjacent lines. It is recommended that when trains or plant are required to pass the site flailing operations are temporarily ceased. b) Planned activities and site constraints / hazards in order to identify appropriate type of machines and equipment for work to be undertaken safely. c) Flailing should not be undertaken where debris could be thrown outside of the exclusion zone. Areas of urban or residential occupation, level crossings and public rights of way should be identified and ensured they are kept clear of flying debris.

6 No COP0026 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for Issue 1 Flailing Operations Using OTP Page 6 of 12 Figure 1 Exclusion Zone d) Competence requirements of site staff involved in the flailing operation. e) Resources required including plant. f) Production and documenting of safe systems of work. g) Contingency/emergency planning eg fire, incident damage, derailment, collision, infrastructure damage.

7 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for No COP0026 Flailing Operations Using OTP Issue 1 Page 7 of 12 2 Stages of Planning of Flailing Operations 2.1 Stages of Planning The following stages are the minimum requirements to be considered when planning the use of flailing machines and equipment. a) Identify work required to include type of work and volume of work: Vegetation control including: tree and shrub profiling, scrub, undergrowth and lineside clearance, volume of work, the yardage to be cleared, how many passes will be necessary. b) Identify hazards through site survey as appropriate (see 1.1.1). c) Develop method of work, identifying machine and equipment requirements. d) Establish manpower requirements and competencies. e) Determine possession and isolation arrangements. f) Identify the contingency and emergency requirements. g) Document the plan All persons involved in planning these activities should have a knowledge and understanding of 2.2 to 2.8: 2.2 Identify Work Required Nature and scope of work activity needs to be established. (Examples listed below): Vegetation control, which could include: Tree and shrub profiling. Scrub, undergrowth and lineside clearance. Volume of work.

8 No COP0026 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for Issue 1 Flailing Operations Using OTP Page 8 of 12 The yardage to be cleared. How many passes will be necessary. 2.3 Identify hazards and control measures through site survey as appropriate Identification and marking of hazards (where necessary), risks and restrictions associated with work requirements identified above. (Examples listed below): Buried services (refer to HSG47). Overhead power lines (refer to GS6). Overhead Line Equipment (OLE). d.c. conductor rail. On and off tracking of RRV. Limited and restricted clearances. Physical hazards e.g. fencing, lineside cabinets, signals, structures, bridges, lineside equipment, cables. Obstructions and loose materials concealed by the vegetation. Lineside drainage. Third Party property. Environmental hazards & special considerations e.g. noise, working over water/enclosed spaces, sites of special scientific interest etc, local authority restrictions. Track access constraints. Adjacent lines. Note. This list is not exhaustive.

9 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for No COP0026 Flailing Operations Using OTP Issue 1 Page 9 of Develop method of work, identifying machine and equipment requirements Taking account of the work, site hazards and constraints identified above, develop the method of work to be undertaken and appropriate machine and equipment to be used The following should be considered when selecting the optimum machine and equipment for the planned work: Delivery/access requirements and restrictions on and off tracking, see M&EE COP0007. OTP Engineering Acceptance Certificate limitations e.g. cant, gradients, working adjacent to open lines, working under live OLE, travel speed, towing and propelling capability, machine specification etc. Capability of flail to cut the thickness of vegetation present, or the thicker shrubs and trees cut down prior to the flailing operation. Machine requirements/guarding. Possession and protection arrangements required (e.g. working adjacent line closed, clearance requirements, gauge infringement etc). Electrified lines (OLE & conductor rail). OTP interface with other work and plant. Re-fuelling requirements, site storage. Communication arrangements (PICOP/ES/MC/CC/COSS/operator). It is recommended that radio communication is used between the MC and the operator. Establishment of a layered cutting strategy e.g. cut and inspect and mark hazards. Control and disposal of vegetation debris.

10 No COP0026 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for Issue 1 Flailing Operations Using OTP Page 10 of 12 Specific machine hazards (available in machine specific risk assessments). Provision of adequate site lighting Where OTP is used on Network Rail managed infrastructure the company Operating the OTP must either hold a POL or engage a company who is already a POL holder. 2.5 Establish manpower requirements and competencies Taking account of work and machine and equipment requirements, identify the following resources with the associated competencies: Machine operator(s) (Sentinel Competence). Machine controller(s) (for supervising plant in rail mode and on/off/cross-tracking). Control of exclusion zone. Staff with responsibility for debris clearance. First aider(s). Handover / handback. 2.6 Determine possession and isolation arrangements Taking account of work activities and machine and equipment requirements, including access arrangements, ensure that possession and isolation arrangements are adequate Identify lines likely to be fouled in order to determine and document the necessary possession and protection arrangements Identify the control arrangements for all level crossings to be traversed by the OTP whilst in rail mode. 2.7 Identify required contingencies OTP operations Taking 2.2 to 2.6 into account, and using historical data and experiences, determine any additional emergency and / or contingency arrangements that may be required in response to unplanned events such as:

11 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for No COP0026 Flailing Operations Using OTP Issue 1 Page 11 of 12 Machine failures. Fire. Adverse weather. Collision and derailments. Staff shortages. Delays in track access. 2.8 Identify required contingencies work activity Infrastructure damage. Third party damage. Injury to staff or third parties. Entanglement of flail head with lineside debris. 2.9 Document the plan Taking 2.2 to 2.8 into account, the method of work, machine and resource requirements, type of machine including limitations and restrictions should be documented for inclusion in the site specific method statement / work package plan and task brief. 3 Use of Flail 3.1 General The flailing operation should only commence once the safe system of work has been documented and fully briefed out The flail should only be used if all components are securely in place, e.g. guards ground skids and rollers. If any guard is damaged during the operation then flailing should cease Before flailing commences ensure between all site staff that there is a clear understanding of the exclusion zone The flailing operation should only commence once it has been ensured that no person (except the machine operator) is in the

12 No COP0026 M&EE Networking Group Code of Practice for Issue 1 Flailing Operations Using OTP Page 12 of 12 exclusion zone. Where two, or more, machines are used each should maintain a separation to ensure the exclusion zones are not infringed If the flail develops a vibration in use it should be stopped immediately for investigation of cause The flailing operation should only be used when the flail head is in line with the direction of travel (as shown in Fig 1). Great care should be taken when flailing around fixed obstacles to avoid debris from the flail head being thrown over the rail boundary or on the railway line The Machine Controller is responsible for observing the exclusion zone, and should be positioned so that work is able to be ceased should the zone be infringed by any person. 3.2 Isolation of rotation of flail head The flail head should cease rotating as soon as the cutting operation ceases In all circumstances during delivery to site, on and off tracking process the flail head should have rotation stopped and isolated. In this circumstance isolate means hydraulic hoses disconnected, or electrical connections isolated If the flailing head has to have debris cleared, or other reason for inspection of head, the flail head should be isolated as set out in